78 degrees of Wisdom?

I'm not sure whether I should get this as my next book. I'm looking for one with ample spreads that I've never used, and one where I can learn a lot about tarot as a whole, instead of just card-to-card learning like in the Pictorial Key to the Tarot. If this isn't the right book, does anyone have any suggestions?

Note: I already have the Tarot Workbook by Nevill Drury

Brock

78 Degrees is a terrific book for the Waite_Smith deck... and it will definitely expand your use of any Waite-Smith based deck. The book is a kind of meditation on the RWS and offers terrific insights and wisdom about the cards (although it does essentially do the card by card overview that you were wanrting to avoid).

Based on your criteria, for my money, I'd buy Robert Place's new book: The Tarot : History, Symbolism, and Divination. Not only does it cover the development and history of Tarot symbolism from the 15th century and propose a solid, substantive theory for the structure of the Tarot. He moves from the Marseilles to go through the Waite-Smith cards pointing out little hidden details. And then at the end introduces his own method of divination which traces flow between cards in a spread in illuminating ways.

HIGHLY recommend. I've linked the title to its page at Tarotpedia which has info and a listing of reviews you can check out.

Scion

If you're gonna read Rachael Pollack, start with The Forest of Souls - a walk through the Tarot, which rocks. 78 Degrees was her first book, and has some issues, even though it does read like a 78 card personal meditation course.

Tarot Sympbolism is a wonderful history book.

Tarot for YourSelf a Workbook for Personal Transformation by Mary K. Greer is a workbook. That means you have to participate...it rocks. It's a good starter.

Remember - a lot of spreads has nothing to do with anything.

Paul Huson: Mystical Origins of the Tarot can't be beat (IMHO) for excellent background. And the bibliography in there will take you through loads more.....

I found 78 Degrees to be pretty good on the Majors but very brief on the minors. Overall, I thought it to be a good resource.

Thank you for your responses. I have yet to look at any of the books. I'm really interested in gregory's and Scion's books but I still value all opinions. If anyone has anymore, please share!



Brock

I really love Rachel Pollack's "Complete Illustrated Guide to the Tarot." Flip through it in the bookstore, I usually see it on the shelf at Transitions (it's on North Avenue in the same mall as Whole Foods and Best Buy - I forget what the cross street is but you can look it up).

It's got lots of photos of different decks and alot of good information presented in introductory format. For what is kind of a coffee table book, I find it to be a nice reference that I still enjoy looking through.

It's enormous fun, I agree (and has been called "tarot porn" by a fan - I can see why - I love mine ! and the pictures of all those lovely decks do lead one astray....) But it hasn't the level of scholarship I think Brock is after ! (it is also HTF these days ! I found one quite by cnance after the subject came up elsewhere !)

gregory said:

It's enormous fun, I agree (and has been called "tarot porn" by a fan - I can see why - I love mine ! and the pictures of all those lovely decks do lead one astray....) But it hasn't the level of scholarship I think Brock is after ! (it is also HTF these days ! I found one quite by cnance after the subject came up elsewhere !)

Click to expand...

With all respect, if I may - I find that the Complete Illustrated Guide (tarot porn, I like that!) does present more depth and insight than meets the eye. Relationships between cards, meanings are broken down to the meaning of the suit+the meaning of the number, so you aren't "memorizing" meanings but understanding where all these authors came up with theirs in the first place, diads and triads, Carl Jung and synchronicity... I think its scholarship is deceptively strong.

But you are right there are certainly more weighty detailed tomes out there. I also enjoy, what is her name, Isabel Kliegman (?)'s book on the minors, Tarot and the Tree of Life.

Of course you may differ !!!! . Everyone is entitled to their view - and you're right; there's more in it than I thought when I said that ! (been back to have a look.)